CVE-2024-1433 in Plasma Workspace
Summary
by MITRE • 02/12/2024
A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in KDE Plasma Workspace up to 5.93.0. This affects the function EventPluginsManager::enabledPlugins of the file components/calendar/eventpluginsmanager.cpp of the component Theme File Handler. The manipulation of the argument pluginId leads to path traversal. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The complexity of an attack is rather high. The exploitability is told to be difficult. The patch is named 6cdf42916369ebf4ad5bd876c4dfa0170d7b2f01. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-253407. NOTE: This requires write access to user's home or the installation of third party global themes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1433 represents a path traversal flaw within the KDE Plasma Workspace environment, specifically affecting versions up to 5.93.0. This security issue resides in the EventPluginsManager::enabledPlugins function located in components/calendar/eventpluginsmanager.cpp, which is part of the Theme File Handler component. The flaw manifests when the pluginId argument is manipulated, allowing attackers to traverse file system paths beyond the intended boundaries. The vulnerability's classification as problematic indicates significant security implications that require immediate attention from system administrators and security teams responsible for maintaining KDE desktop environments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under CWE-22, which specifically addresses path traversal or directory traversal attacks. These types of vulnerabilities occur when applications fail to properly validate user input before using it to access files or directories. In this case, the EventPluginsManager component processes plugin identifiers without adequate sanitization, creating an opportunity for attackers to craft malicious pluginId values that can navigate the file system to access unauthorized resources. The attack vector is remote, meaning an attacker can exploit this vulnerability without requiring physical access to the target system, though the attack complexity is noted as high, indicating that successful exploitation requires significant skill and resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-1433 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access, as it could potentially allow attackers to read sensitive configuration files, access user data, or even execute arbitrary code if combined with other vulnerabilities. The requirement for write access to user's home directory or the ability to install third-party global themes creates a scenario where attackers could potentially escalate privileges or install malicious plugins that persist across system sessions. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of user data within KDE environments, particularly affecting users who rely on calendar and event management features that utilize the vulnerable plugin system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should begin with immediate patch application, as indicated by the provided commit hash 6cdf42916369ebf4ad5bd876c4dfa0170d7b2f01 that contains the necessary fixes. System administrators should prioritize updating their KDE Plasma installations to versions that include this patch, particularly in environments where users have the ability to install custom themes or plugins. Additional protective measures include implementing strict file system permissions that limit write access to user home directories and restricting the installation of third-party global themes to trusted sources only. Network segmentation and monitoring for unusual file access patterns can also help detect potential exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for scripting and T1547.001 for registry run keys, as attackers may attempt to establish persistence through malicious plugin installations that leverage the path traversal capabilities to place persistent payloads within the system. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of unauthorized plugins or themes to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities in the future.